Congress to vote on Epstein recordsdata amid fears Trump will attempt to bury launch
Congress will today vote on whether to force the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, amid fears Donald Trump is trying to use an “investigation for obstruction” loophole to keep the documents hidden —- even as he performs a dramatic U-turn, urging Republicans to back the measure.
Congress will today vote on whether to force the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, as fears grow that Donald Trump is attempting to use an “investigation for obstruction” loophole to stop the documents from ever being made public.
The president has urged Republicans to back the measure – a stunning U-turn after weeks spent trying to block publication. But campaigners warn the bill includes a clause allowing an “investigation for obstruction” – a mechanism they say Trump is already trying to exploit to delay or derail the release.
A Capitol Hill source told the Mirror: “The president has already called on the Department of Justice to investigate Bill Clinton and Larry Summers’ past ties to Epstein, a move that appears to be a direct attempt to trigger the loophole. If he gets his way, Trump could use the investigation as a reason to keep the documents hidden from public view. He is that desperate; he will do anything.”
Trump’s weekend reversal came as internal pressures within his party threatened to detonate, and scrutiny increased following the launch of a searchable database of 23,000 documents released by the House Oversight Committee. The database reveals the most explosive detail yet: Trump is the most frequently mentioned individual in the files – even more than Epstein himself. The revelation piled further pressure on the White House and deepened a MAGA civil war triggered by the president’s initial refusal to support the release of the files.
A growing number of Republicans had already signalled they would break with Trump and vote for release regardless of his objections. The measure is expected to pass the House today, although its future in the Republican-controlled Senate remains uncertain.
The bill would force the Justice Department to publish all Epstein-related files within 30 days. Debate begins at 3pm UK time, with proceedings expected to run for several hours. Epstein victims will be on Capitol Hill lobbying for the measure and publicly urging lawmakers to end years of secrecy surrounding his powerful network.
The documents could include material on Andrew Mounbatten Windsor, Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence; government officials named in the case; and internal Justice Department communications stretching back decades.
Trump’s sudden change of heart on Sunday stands in stark contrast to his long association with Epstein. The pair were close during their Palm Beach social years in the early 1990s and early 2000s, attending the same parties and mixing in the same elite circles.
Trump once described Epstein as a “terrific guy” who “likes beautiful women as much as I do, many of them on the younger side.”
The comments have repeatedly resurfaced since Epstein’s arrest and death. The president has since claimed he cut ties with the sex offender before the financier first faced charges, insisting he had “nothing to do with him.” But critics say the shifting story – coupled with repeated attempts to block the release of the files – has raised more questions than answers.
Trump also promised during his 2020 campaign that he would release all Epstein documents if elected. Such promises were never fulfilled, with him labelling the documents a “hoax”, further fuelling suspicion surrounding his resistance to publication. Trump’s initial refusal to support releasing the files has triggered one of the fiercest internal battles within the MAGA movement since he took office.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, once one of his most loyal defenders, publicly accused Trump of trying to stop Republicans from backing the vote. She said he had “fought harder to block the Epstein files than anyone expected,” calling the country’s right to transparency “bigger than Trump.” He retaliated by calling Greene as a “traitor,” igniting a weekend-long political feud that exposed deep fractures inside the movement.
Colorado’s Lauren Boebert and South Carolina’s Nancy Mace have also broken ranks. A senior Republican aide described the rift as “the biggest internal meltdown since the fallout from January 6,” adding: “This is the one issue Trump cannot control.” Even if the measure passes the House, the Senate is under no obligation to consider it.
Majority Leader John Thune said he had not “heard demand” from Republicans but admitted a successful House vote could shift the pressure. Republican congressman Thomas Massie urged Thune to “do the right thing.” While Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso was far cooler, saying the Senate would “take a look” at the bill, but accusing Democrats of using the push to weaken Trump, calling it an effort to make him a “lame-duck president.”
